Functional English I Lecture 7
What is an adjective?
Read these sentences Saad s mango is sweet Aamir s mango is sweeter than Saad s Humayun s mango is sweetest of all
In sentence 1, the adjective sweet merely tells us that Saad s mango has the quality of sweetness, without saying how much of this quality it has
In sentence 2, the adjective sweeter tells us that Aamir s mango, compared with Saad s, has more of the quality of sweetness
In sentence 3, the adjective sweetest tells us that of all these mangoes Humayun s mango has the greatest amount or highest degree of the quality of sweetness
We thus see that adjectives change in form (sweet, sweeter, sweetest) to show comparison These are called the three Degrees of Comparison
The adjective sweet is said to be in the Positive degree The adjective sweeter is said to be in the Comparative degree The adjective sweetest is said to be in the Superlative degree
The positive degree of an adjective is the adjective in its simple form It is used to denote the mere existence of some quality of what we speak about It is used when no comparison is made
The comparative degree of an adjective denotes a higher degree of the quality than the positive and is used when two things (or set of things) are compared For example, This boy is stronger than that Apples are dearer than oranges
The superlative degree of an adjective denotes the highest degree of the quality and is used when more than two things (or sets of things) are compared For example, This boy is the brightest in the class
There is another way in which we can compare things Instead of saying Saad is stronger than Aamir, we can say, Aamir is less strong than Saad
The superlative with most is sometimes used where there is no idea of comparison, but merely a desire to indicate the possession of a quality in a very high degree For example, This is most unfortunate It was a most eloquent speech This usage has been called the Superlative of Eminence or the Absolute Superlative
Formation of comparative and superlative Most adjectives of one syllable and some of more than one form the comparative by adding er and the superlative by adding est to the positive
Formation of comparative and superlative Positive Comparative Superlative Sweet Sweeter Sweetest Small Smaller Smallest Tall Taller Tallest Kind Kinder Kindest Great Greater Greatest
Formation of comparative and superlative When the positive ends in e, only r and st are added Positive Comparative Superlative Brave Braver Bravest Noble Nobler Noblest Wise Wiser Wisest
Formation of comparative and superlative When the positive ends in j, preceded by a consonant, the y is changed into i before adding er and est Positive Comparative Superlative Happy Happier Happiest Easy Easier Easiest Merry Merrier Merriest
Formation of comparative and superlative When the positive is a word of one syllable and ends in a single consonant, preceded by a short vowel, this consonant is double before adding er and est Positive Comparative Superlative Thin Thinner Thinnest Fat Fatter Fattest Sad Sadder Saddest
Formation of comparative and superlative Adjectives of more than two syllables form the comparative and superlative by putting more and most before the positive Positive Comparative Superlative Difficult More difficult Most difficult Courageous Industrious More courageous More industrious Most courageous Most industrious
Irregular comparison The following adjectives are compound irregularly, that is, their comparative and superlative are not formed from the positive Positive Comparative Superlative Good/well Better Best Bad,/evil/ill Worse Worst Little Less/lesser Least Much More Most